Anthony Joshua has revealed he is looking to return to the ring in December, which could shut the door to a clash with Tyson Fury.

AJ hasn’t fought since being brutally beaten by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last September.

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Joshua wants to return in December, which could delay a clash with Fury
The Briton was carrying injuries shortly after the fight, but was eyeing a showdown with Tyson Fury this year.

The ‘Gypsy King’ retired from boxing, and Joshua has yet to pencil in his next opponent.

It emerged this week that he would now have surgery on his elbow, which would rule him out of training for a further eight weeks.

And in a new update, Joshua insisted he plans to return before the end of the year.

“December, I will fight again,” he told ESPN Mexico.

“That’s when I want to fight again, I’ll take some time and I will go in December.

“I just want to get my body feeling good and then I’ll fight. It’s a simple job.”

It would see Joshua having had a 14-month lay-off from the ring if he does indeed return in the final month of the year.

And it could spell a significant blow to his chances of fighting Fury in a stadium, with any clash in the UK unlikely to be held in an open-air venue over winter.

As a result, any bout with Fury would now likely be held in 2026 or could be held in Saudi Arabia.

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Joshua will make a comeback after a brutal defeatCredit: GETTY
Joshua could look to alternative options in a winter return, having named Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder as potential options.

Wilder would be a blockbuster clash, but the American must first beat Tyrell Herndon in his comeback fight next month.

For sure, the British heavyweight will be inundated with offers, and has even been called out by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

But he admitted he needs to work on his physical conditioning before he is ready to make a comeback.

He continued: “My body has been through the works.

“If I want to be here for the long time I just want to make sure my body is really really good before I get back into the ring.

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Joshua could fight an array of options when he does returnCredit: Getty
“Sooner than later. I’m still training but I’m just kind of rebuilding.

“To be good is not enough in boxing, if you want to be a world champion you’ve got to be great.

“Throughout the last year or so, especially my last fight I was good but not great.

“To be a champion you gotta be ‘on your s***’ basically and I need to step my game up.”

Away from the ring, Joshua is lining up an investment in football club Watford.

He was born and raised in the area and has spoke about plans to put some money into the Championship side.

He said: “As you earn, naturally you want to save, so rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes and that was an opportunity that presented itself.

“Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off it’s one that should do well.

“If they went back to the Premier League then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.

“I remember being on Market Street and watching the football fans.

“I’m not a massive football fan myself but watching the fans steamroll Market Street and steamroll Vicarage Road were real good scenes.

“If we don’t do it then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team.”